1 year ago
At the root of almost every field bindweed outbreak is, in fact, the part of the plant that attaches to the soil and absorbs nutrients, said Kansas State University weed scientist Jeremie Kouame, noting that the weed becomes dominant within fields by developing a vast root system. "It can stay in a soil’s seed bank for ...

1 year ago
The Kansas Department of Agriculture welcomed two beef genetics trade teams in Kansas in June. According to the agency, the first team, from Argentina, embarked on a two-week tour of America’s heartland to explore beef cattle genetics suited for diverse environments in Argentina. During their stay in Kansas, the team visited Dalebanks Angus Ranch in Eureka, ...

1 year ago
The Kansas Department of Agriculture has funds available for certified organic operators through the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP). Farms, ranches, and businesses that produce, process, or package certified organic agricultural products may be reimbursed for eligible expenses. The purpose of the NOCCSP is to defray the costs of receiving and maintaining organic certification ...

1 year ago
Four states including Kansas  will launch voluntary pilot programs in the days ahead to test bulk milk tanks on dairy farms for bird flu — a move that’s aimed at making it easier for farmers to ship herds across state lines and for public health officials to track spread of the virus. According to the US ...

1 year ago
A public hearing will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2nd, to consider changes to the administrative regulations relating to livestock movement and public livestock markets. The hearing will be held in person at the Kansas Department of Agriculture at 1320 Research Park Dr. in Manhattan, as well as via video conferencing system. The ...

1 year ago
According to the June 23, 2024 USDA/NASS Kansas Crop Progress and Condition Report, winter wheat harvested was 53%, well ahead of 17% last year and 25% for the five-year average. Winter wheat mature was 94%, well ahead of 53% last year and 65% average. Kansas winter wheat condition rated 8% very poor, 15% poor, 35% ...

1 year ago
Getting the hay wagon through the gate was always a challenge when taking bales off a field to be stored at a yard. All of the gates were constructed prior to the invention of round balers and therefore the openings were generally snug when trying to sneak a trailer through loaded with 10 bales. Clearing the ...

1 year ago
Kansas State University researchers and representatives of Kansas Wheat have published updated findings on the value of feeding wheat to pigs. What they’ve found is good news for swine producers and wheat growers. “Our data collected from 2014 to 2020 suggests that wheat’s mean energy content is 99% and 98% of corn for digestible energy and metabolizable ...

1 year ago
The USDA has designated a handful of counties in Kansas and Oklahoma as primary natural drought disaster areas. According to the USDA,  the natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be ...

1 year ago
A Kansas State University veterinarian says that personalized prevention programs for pink eye, an acute eye disease affecting cattle of all ages, are proving to be "very, very effective" for suppressing infections. “Currently, there is a big move to autogenous and prescription vaccines because there are many strains of these pink-eye-causing bacteria out there,” veterinarian Gregg ...

1 year ago
Rain has stalled what has been a mixed wheat harvest around Central Kansas. With wheat ripening late last week, by the weekend crews were already out in some fields cutting. Rain late Saturday into Sunday, and then again Tuesday night, has slowed things down. Initial signs leading up to harvest were ominous. Dry conditions in many areas ...